Author's Note: Sorry this took a while! The end of the semester was crazy, and I'm finishing a 2 week break, but the first week was to get ready for family for my "fake" graduation (I "walked" but don't graduate until August).

So here is the next to the last chapter (plus epilogue). Please review! I have noticed that people continually put this story on the alert, but I don't get many reviews at all! And reviews make me happy!

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Chapter 11: Our Hearts Melt

Daylight slowly crept upon the sleeping lovers, illuminating them in almost a surreal manner. Edward was curled closely behind Bella, his arms wrapped tightly around her abdomen as he snored softly, face buried in her mussed hair. Bella, meanwhile, was slowly waking from her slumber. Smiling, she moved herself infinitesimally closer to the man that was holding her so intently.

Smiling, Bella recalled the events of the evening before; however, she could not stop a fleeting thought from entering her mind. What did it all mean?

She told herself she would have no regrets, but Bella was no fool. She was fully aware that sex wasn't just something physical for her. The emotions of physical intimacy always affected her. Before they even progressed past kissing, Bella was feeling romantic affection towards her bed companion. Yet, she had no idea how Edward felt about her.

There was no mention of any actual affection between the two, and Bella had to admit that she was too much of a coward to express her feelings before Edward did. She had always been shy, but at this moment it pained her to feel exactly how shy she actually was. Bella could not help but feel that if feelings were not shared in the next two days, she and Edward would part ways for an indefinite length of time.

With an aggravated sigh, Bella nestled herself closer to the warm body next to her and fell into a restless sleep.

o0o0o0o0o0

That afternoon, the men and ladies of the group parted ways so that the women could shop for "extra special outfits," as Alice put it, for New Year's Eve. Everybody knew, however, that it was just a ploy so that Alice could get all the gossip from Bella about her evening.

As the men watched the women depart from the lodge, Emmett and Jasper could not help but notice the longing expression Edward wore on his face as he watched Bella enter a taxi.

Slapping his cousin's back, Emmett could not help but comment, "Somebody's whipped."

Edward quickly rotated his head so he could see his cousin. "What? No. It's not like that."

Emmett raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "You're telling me it's just physical? That's not like you."

"No, I mean," Edward sighed while pinching his nose. "I don't know." Emmett and Jasper, who was quietly listening to the conversation, patiently waited for Edward to continue. "I mean, I know I feel affection towards Bella, but I don't know what she feels."

"Then tell her," Jasper finally spoke, shrugging his shoulder. "If I have learned to read Bella correctly over these years, I think she feels more than physical attraction towards you, too. She doesn't casually sleep around."

Emmett nodded his head, agreeing. "I have never known Bella to have a casual sexual relationship. And besides, it's obvious from how she looks at you, that there is something there. So tell her."

His cousin shook his head. "But, just… Remember Lauren?"

"Lauren was a fucking two-timing bitch who doesn't deserve to be thought of twice," Emmett practically snarled. "You can't honestly say you miss that girl, can you?"

Edward shook his head. "Not at all. I have just become very wary of putting my heart out on the line."

"What are you, a pansy? Grow some balls and tell her" Emmett rolled his eyes and quickly changed the subject. Although he could be sensitive to a point, he was very uncomfortable with feelings, especially when talking about 'hearts being on the line.' "Come on. I'm sick of this conversation. Men aren't supposed to sit around talking about their feelings." The two men accompanying him smirked at Emmett's antics. "Now let's hit some slopes."

Quietly, Edward followed his two friends, left to ponder on what was to be done.

o0o0o0o0o0

"So spill," Alice declared as they walked into a boutique. "You obviously did not make it to dinner last night."

Bella's cheeks flooded with color. "We were tired."

"Uh huh," Alice stated sarcastically while Rose rolled her eyes. "You guys must have been having some really good dreams by the sounds coming from your room."

Bella knew that there was no way to deny what truly happened behind the closed hotel room door, so she busied herself looking through racks of dresses, hoping that both her friends would not push her. Unfortunately, that was too much to ask.

"So," Rose nudged Bella's shoulder with her own. "Did you finally sleep with him?"

Her friend sighed and nodded. She knew from prior experience that it was best to give in, or else her friends would be relentless.

"How was it?" Alice wiggled her eyebrows.

Without saying a word, a grin unwillingly formed on Bella's face, giving her true feelings away to her friends. They did not need to ask twice to know what her response would be if she had voiced it.

The two friends relented for a period of time as they shuffled through clothes, occasionally removing a piece of clothing to set aside to try on. Even the clothes that Alice and Rose set aside were for Bella, though. Both had come to the conclusion that although they had packed Bella's suitcases themselves, she did not have anything suitable to knock Edward off his feet for the New Year's celebration. They both determined that by time they left in two days time, there would exist a permanent relationship between Bella and Edward.

Finally, Rose asked the question that was burning in both her and Alice's minds. "So did you guys talk about what will happen after this trip?"

With these simple words, the thoughts of that morning flooded back into Bella's mind. No matter how much she tried to focus on the here and now, she knew that when she and Edward parted ways, she desired to maintain some sort of relationship. However, no sort of relationship was even alluded to.

Letting her hair fall forward to hide her face, Bella simply shook her head in the negative.

Alice was not satisfied with the head gesture and immediately asked, "Why not?"

Bella sighed. "I don't know. Edward has not expressed any feelings towards me. For all I know, this could just be a physical attraction that we could not hide from."

Rose sidled up to her friend, giving her a one armed hug. "But what do you feel?"

"I don't know exactly," she shrugged. "I feel something. I've never felt such an intense attraction to anyone else, and it's not just physical."

"Why don't you tell him?" Rose asked.

Bella shook her head. "I don't want to risk ruining the next days."

Alice raised an eyebrow. "But you'd rather risk the loss of a relationship that could be the one?"

"It's unrealistic, guys," Bella sighed. "I'm in Seattle, and he's in Illinois."

"But for only three and a half years more," Alice pointed out. "If things work out, he could always do his internship and residency in Seattle."

"I couldn't ask him to move halfway across the country. Besides, aren't we jumping ahead of ourselves here? Look at him! He's beautiful, intelligent, caring. Now look at me!" Bella extended an arm as if showcasing herself.

"Look at you?" Rose asked incredulously. "You mean look at the beautiful accomplished intelligent woman who deserves a beautiful, intelligent, caring man?"

"You know we are on different playing fields."

"Excuse me?" Alice demanded, arms akimbo. "You really need to get your vision checked, hun."

"Whatever," Bella shook her head. "It'll never work out."

"Yeah, whatever, Debbie Downer," Rose rolled her eyes. "If you just want to let a wonderful man out of your life, that's up to you. Don't come crying to me, though."

Alice elbowed Rose roughly in the stomach, but as Rose went to argue Alice about what she said, Bella just wordlessly moved on to a new rack of clothes, trying to forget all her troubles.

o0o0o0o0o0

"The ladies are back!" Emmett boomed from the sofa he was sitting on in one of the public areas of the lodge. Standing up, he met Rose with a big hug and a loud kiss on her cheek before eagerly peeking into one of her shopping bags. "Did you get something for me, babe?"

Jasper and Edward greeted Alice and Bella, respectively, in a much more subdued manner. As Edward met Bella at half the distance originally between them, he shyly took her unoccupied hand to pull her closer. Kissing her chastely on the lips, he murmured, "Hey."

"Hey yourself," Bella replied, stepping even closer. "Did you boys have fun without us women?"

Edward smirked. "Not so much as I would've had with you." As always, Bella's cheeks filled with a beautiful pink color. At the sight of it, Edward reached to tenderly brush her cheek with his free hand. "I love this."

His compliment only served to have the blush grow brighter as Bella vehemently commented, "You wouldn't if you had to deal with it."

Her lover's eyes twinkled with mirth at her comment. "Well, it wouldn't be nearly as endearing on my face as it is on yours."

"Oh really?" Bella raised an eyebrow as she raised herself on her toes to give Edward another kiss. However, just as their lips were about to touch, a clearing throat stole their attention.

"We're going back to our rooms," Jasper explained. "We'll just meet outside our doors as usual for dinner."

"That is, if you're coming," Alice winked, this time causing a blush to actually appear on Edward's cheeks.

"We'll be there," Bella quickly replied.

As the two other couples parted ways, Edward looked down at Bella asking, "Well, what did you want to do?"

She shrugged. "I'm actually kind of beat. Going shopping with those two is always an adventure."

Stepping back from her, Edward smirked. "Let's then rest back in our room then. I have an idea."

Curious, Bella asked what his idea was, but was promptly told it was a surprise. For the duration of the ride on the elevator, Bella refrained from asking again, but as soon as they were through their room's door, she asked again.

"Just shh," Edward smirked, pulling her into the bathroom. "It's nothing bad. Just sit here," he demanded as he raised Bella up to sit on the counter. Once she was seated, he turned to fill the over-sized bathtub with warm water and bath bubbles. Once again facing her, Edward explained, "A good bath will do you good," while slowly unbuttoning Bella's blouse.

"Oh really?"

He nodded. "After such a long hard day of shopping, you need to rest from your feet."

"Hmm. I can't complain."

"You shouldn't," he whispered leaning in to give Bella a gentle kiss before removing the remainder of her clothing. "Now come," he requested, assisting Bella off of the counter and to the bathtub.

"That's what she said," Bella smirked.

It was an overused joke, but Edward could not stop himself from laughing heartily. Although Bella had shown her lightheartedness through the vacation, he had yet to experience Bella in her most relaxed state. Her simple joke allowed Edward to see a little more into her personality that only shined around loved ones. "Oh Bella, I could never guess what will come out of your mouth."

"I try to keep it a mystery," Bella winked as she lowered herself into the warm water. "Oh, this is a godsend." At the sight of Edward leaning against the counter she asked, "Are you not joining me?"

He shrugged. "I just intended for you to relax, but I'll be more than happy to accompany you."

"Well what are you waiting for then?" Bella gave him an expectant look.

Swiftly, Edward removed his clothing and settled himself behind Bella, pulling her closely to him. "Mmm. This is a godsend."

"Even better now that you are with me."

At such an honest statement, Edward pulled her even closer and buried his nose in her hair, losing himself in her fresh scent. He could not help but wonder if it was a good time to address the meaning of their current affair. He had certainly taken Jasper's and Emmett's advice to heart, but he could not imagine what would happen if she refused him.

And ruin this perfect moment if she does not feel the same way? I don't think so.

Inwardly, Edward sighed at his cowardice. He knew there was something he could say, though, that would show Bella that he trusted her.

"Bella?"

"Hmm?" she murmured with her eyes closed and head relaxed on his shoulder.

"There is an explanation I think I owe you."

Her eyes opened showing her concern in her eyes. "What is it?"

"Remember the first night here when we were talking why waiting to fall asleep?"

"Yeah." She thought back to that first awkward day when they realized they were set up by Alice and decided to extract some revenge on their friend. "Why?"

"Well, when we began to talk about my parents, I shut down and hardly spoke to you the next morning."

"I remember." Bella tilted her head up to gaze at his face. "What's this about?"

"I'm sorry to have reacted that way. You didn't deserve that treatment." Edward clenched his jaw and looked away from the woman in his arms.

"Hey," Bella whispered, gently turning his chin to look back at her. "I need no explanation. You are allowed to mourn for your parents."

Edward let out a heavy sigh. "The problem is, I should've been dead too." Bella's expression turned from concerned to curious and back again, so he continued, "I was supposed to go to a charity ball with them as well, but I lied to get out of it. I told them I was sick. Mom wanted to stay home to take care of me, even though I was eighteen and fully capable to take care of myself for the evening. I finally convinced them to go without me, and the next thing I know there is a cop at my door."

"Oh Edward," Bella turned fully to face him on his lap. "You can't feel guilty about that," she whispered, tracing his lips with a finger.

He kissed the finger and responded, "Rationally, I know this. But it still gets to me, and anytime somebody brings up their death, I retreat back into myself, only to relive that night over again. I should've never taken it out on you that next morning."

In response to Edward's confession, Bella did not know what to say or to do except to take him in her arms and hug him closely. Softly, she pressed her lips to his neck, but only in a comforting manner.

Neither knew how long they stayed like that, entangled together in the water, but eventually Edward had to break the spell. Pulling back slightly, he murmured, "Come, the water is cooling, and I don't want you to catch a chill."

Without a word, the couple moved from the bathtub to the shower stall, where they lovingly washed each other, both knowing that the connection already forged between them had grown even stronger.

But they only had just over thirty-six hours to acknowledge it.